September Top Sellers – Car Pro News

September was another strong month for car sales, with sales up about 13% industry- wide compared with the month a year ago.
The growth was especially healthy considering that the average vehicle transaction price also increased to $32,243 compared to August’s $32,181, according to CNW Marketing Research.
Total incentives and discounts weren’t appreciably higher than August. In fact, the only major-selling vehicle with significant incentive increases for the month was the 2012-13 Ford Focus, which has up to $2,000 cash-back offers currently. The Focus was up an astounding 91.4% for the month, which didn’t put it in the top 10, but did make it the 12th best-selling vehicle for the month.
With few incentives, most of the changes in the sales landscape for September are likely attributable to available supply of the models.
The top-gaining automakers in September were the same ones that have exceeded the industry throughout 2012: Toyota (up 41.5% year-over-year in September), Honda (30.9%) and Chrysler (11.5%).
Toyota and Honda’s exceptional showing is mostly a result of comparing healthy sales this September to those last year hurt by supply shortages from the Japan tsunami and Thailand floods.
Toyota saw gains from mainstream models like Camry (+37.8%) and Prius (+103%) as well as new Lexus models like the redesigned ES (+80%), GS (+408%) and RX (+40.8%). Most of Honda’s gains came from just two nameplates: the Accord (+56.6%) and Civic (+57%).
Chrysler remains the American comeback kid with a strong showing from the Ram pickup series, which ascended from the bottom of the top 10 in August to middle of the pack in September, thanks to dealers trying to make way for the heavily revised 2013 models.
Chrysler’s Dodge Grand Caravan (+32%), Dodge Avenger (+89%) and Jeep Grand Cherokee (+19%) also saw significant sales increases for September.
Here are top 10 sellers for September, with their monthly sales and change vs. 2011 and their year-to-date sales and change:
1. Ford F-series, 55,077/1.2%, 463,733/11.4%
2. Chevy Silverado, 35,435/-16.6%, 298,200/0.6%
3. Toyota Camry, 34,252/37.8%, 314,788/37.1%
4. Honda Accord, 29,182/56.6%, 247,847/36.9%
5. Ram Trucks, 25,973/5.9%, 213,593/20%
6. Chevrolet Cruze, 25,787/1.2%, 180,600/-3.7%
7. Nissan Altima, 24,448/0.4%, 234,040/16.7%
8. Ford Escape, 23,148/14.5%, 200,075/6.5%
9. Toyota Corolla/Matrix, 23,026/42.6%, 222,703/19.2%
10. Honda CR-V, 22,268/13.6%, 213,381/32.5%